Does Free Speech Go Too Far? -- Essays Papers

Does Free Speech Go Too Far? Freedom of speech is mayhap the most important right that we have in the United States of America. The first amendment of the Constitution gives everyone in the country the right to express their opinions as they see fit. Without this right, African-Americans susceptibility not have been afforded the opportunity to gain racial equality. While this is one of the ideas that this country is founded on, at times it seems to go to far. When a group spreading execration and prejudice wants to exercise their own right to free speech, many people have a problem with it. Free speech cannot just be for those who you equal with, it has to be for everyone. As I have seen firsthand, when the voice speaking out preaches intolerance, the true voice of the people will overcome. The First Amendment to the Constitution states Congress shall shuffle no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the fr eedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to supplicate the government for a redress of grievances (Rights). Without these words, the civil rights movement of the 1960s capacity not have proved lucky. Using non-violent resistance such as marches, boycotts, and sit-ins, the disparity was fought. In many places, people tried to block the African-Americans freedoms. One example of this was on May 3, 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. The police used dogs and trenchant water hoses on the demonstrators, as well as arresting 4,000 people during a few days of demonstrations (Mayer). As they fought on, African-Americans were able to fight the good fight, and were successful in gaining their civil rights. Yet... ...-filled voices, the very march that I took place in proved that there are natural checks for those voices. The first amendment is there for those people whose voices might not otherwise be heard. Hopefully when the voice of the minority is that of prejudice, the greater, and righteous voice will overcome. Works CitedBill of Rights Thomas Historical Documents. http//lcweb2.loc.gov/const/bor.html (30 November 2000).Herchel, Rabbi Jaffe. Personal Interview. 30 Nov. 2000.Mayer, Kurt Albert. From Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation to Martin LutherKings Dream of Being Free at Last African Americans and their Drawn-Out Struggle for Civil Rights, http//mailbox.univie.ac.at/mayerk3/Civilrights.htm (30 November 2000).Strum, Phillip. merciful Rights Organization in Civil Society, http//www.civiced.org/schwerin_strum.html (30 November 2000).